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The Oakland Athletics have announced that the club has exercised its contract option for 2011 with Bob Geren, assuring the A's manager his fifth season at the helm.

Entering Saturday's game against the Boston Red Sox, Geren has posted a 296-329 record (.474 percentage) in his four seasons as the A's skipper. He originally was hired as the 28th manager in franchise history-17th manager in Oakland annals--on Nov. 17, 2006. His initial contract with the team was a two-year agreement through the 2008 season with a club option for 2009, which was exercised. The San Diego, Calif. native subsequently signed a new contract for the 2010 season with a club option for 2011 on March 24, 2009.

Geren, who turns 49 years old on Sept. 22, has steered the 2010 A's to a 70-70 mark and second-place showing in the American League West, as they trail the division-leading Texas Rangers by 7 Â˝ games entering today. The .500 record and second-place standing represent a marked improvement from last season, when Oakland finished in last place with a 75-87 record. It has also been accomplished despite the A's using the disabled list 23 times this season, the second most in Oakland history (25 in 2008). In fact, Oakland has used the DL 87 times during Geren's tenure from 2007-10, which is the second highest total in the majors behind only Texas (97).

In his managerial debut in 2007, Geren led the A's to a third-place finish in the division with a 76-86 record. The following season, he guided Oakland to a second straight third-place showing and near identical 75-86 mark.

Prior to his current managing stint, Geren was a member of the A's coaching staff for four seasons, serving as the club's bench coach in 2006 after spending the previous three seasons as bullpen coach. He joined the A's organization in 1999 as manager of Single-A Modesto and spent the next three seasons (2000-02) at the helm of Triple-A Sacramento. He also managed in the Boston Red Sox farm system for three seasons. His seven-year managerial record on the minor league level was 452-390, including a 319-253 ledger in the Athletics' system.

A former catcher, Geren enjoyed a professional playing career that spanned 15 seasons, including five years in the major leagues with the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres.